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Prosecution Drops Trillanes as Witness in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

The prosecution has decided not to call Antonio Trillanes IV as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial after his request to withdraw.

2 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Prosecution Drops Trillanes as Witness in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial — Archive photoPhoto: Government of the Philippines · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The prosecution panel for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte announced on October 1 that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV will no longer be called as a witness. This decision was confirmed by lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro during the court proceedings, where he stated that Trillanes's withdrawal was accepted.

Trillanes himself revealed in a Facebook statement that he had requested to be removed from the witness list to alleviate pressure on the prosecution team. He emphasized that this decision was made to prevent additional stress related to their case.

In a subsequent statement, he expressed concerns over the implications of his testimony and the environment surrounding the trial, suggesting that he felt it was necessary to step back from his role as a witness.

The removal of Trillanes has resulted in a significant shift in the trial dynamics, as he was expected to provide critical testimony. The prosecution's decision to drop him could alter the expected course of the proceedings.

Despite the loss of this witness, the prosecution remains prepared to present its case effectively, with plans to conduct whole-day trial sessions in the upcoming weeks. Public prosecutor Terry Ridon reiterated their commitment to moving forward with the trial.

This development marks another pivotal moment in the impeachment trial, which continues to gain attention amid the ongoing political discourse in the Philippines.

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